From Fred Itua, Abuja

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Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, has revealed that the lifespan of the 2016 budget, will expire on May 5, 2017. He had therefore warned heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to desist from mopping up funds at the end of this month.
Speaking to Senate Correspondents yesterday, Goje said the National Assembly may be compelled to extend the validity period of the budget, in the event that it is unable to pass the 2017 Appropriation Bill on or before the midnight of May 5, 2017.
He said unlike in the past, when the National Assembly had to amend the Appropriation Act or extend the validity period of the budget, lawmakers in 2016, decided to incorporate it into the document.
He explained: “Last year, when we were producing this 2016 Appropriation Bill, we realised that at the end of each year, there were usually requests for an extension of the budget from the executive. To avoid that, we decided to incorporate this new thing.
“In the 2016 Appropriation Act, which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law, clause 11 of it says that “in line with the provisions of Section 318 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, this bill will run for a period of 12 months, starting from the day it was assented into law.”
“President Buhari signed this bill into law on May 6, 2016. This means the budget will run from that date up to the midnight of May 5, 2017. Unless of course if the Act is amended or altered as deemed fit by the National Assembly.
“As far as the law is concerned, there is no need for any extension or mop up by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The mop up they usually do will now be illegal, except the National Assembly, in conjunction with the executive, amends the law, this is the position of the 2016 budget.
“We do not have to extend the 2016 budget. If May comes and there is need to extend, then we can do otherwise. I believe before that date, the 2017 budget will be passed. For now, this is the position of the law.”
The Senate Committee on Appropriation, for instance, is yet to get reports from all the standing committees on the 2017 budget. It is unclear whether or not the promise by the Senate to pass the 2017 budget by the end of March, 2017 is still feasible.